Being intentional in change
By Larry Platner
Day 16
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Simon and Andrew have been asked by Jesus to “follow him”. But to do so required an intentionality about changing the direction of their lives. This choice couldn’t have been easy. What did their families and friends think? Most likely they would have said or thought something like: “Why are you giving up a safe vocation, financial stability, your home, leaving your family etc., to follow this itinerant preacher to who knows where.?”
Peter and Andrew were being asked to intentionally make a drastic change in their lives. What led them to choose to do so? One reason would have been the attraction of Jesus and his message. Jesus proclaimed that he was bringing the kingdom of God which would have appealed to these kingdom minded Jews.
But Jesus didn’t just say, “follow me” and leave it at that. He gave a clear purpose to which he was calling them to: to become fishers of men.
Most likely there will be a time or times when Jesus will call on you to make a drastic change in your life. To intentionally choose to do so will require being clear on the purpose, what He is calling you to. This won’t lessen the cost of the change but it will imbue you with the conviction that this change is worth the cost and that it will take you to a better place.
So when that call from Jesus comes, be clear on the purpose and know that it will lead you to a better place.
